Caregiver Insights: Senior In Home Care

Taking an Honest Assessment about Senior Care

Senior Care in Lincoln CA

If you have an elderly loved one who is having difficulty tending to his own care at home, has recently suffered from a major health issue such as a heart attack or stroke, or is facing any number of challenges, the topic of senior care may have come up.When it comes to senior care, there are many options and it’s important to take an honest look at them to ensure that the senior gets the best level of care and support now and well into the future.

The limitations family caregivers face.

With more than 44 million family members taking care of the elderly and disabled loved ones across the country, according to the AARP, it’s reasonable to assume that the default position may be that taking care of an aging parent or other loved one is the right thing to do.

However, few of these family members actually have prior experience taking care of seniors. On top of that, they likely have full-time jobs and other responsibilities that limit the amount of time they can actually devote to the elderly family member.

Being fair and honest to the senior means addressing these issues and discussing the prospect of professional senior home services.

Other senior care options.

Independent living, nursing home care, assisted living, and home care are all different types of senior care. The most affordable option is home care, even though many people incorrectly assume it is more expensive than assisted-living or even nursing home care.

Independent living is essentially a situation where the senior would move into a community, have his own house or apartment, and live independently, but not have to worry about landscaping, lawn care, and general maintenance of the property. Nursing home care is essentially reserved for people who require a significant amount of direct medical attention morning, afternoon, evening, and even overnight. It is the most expensive senior care option to consider, averaging approximately $75,000 per year, at a minimum.

Assisted living is the second most expensive type of senior care, averaging $55,000 per year. This type of situation is where a person would move into an apartment style community were staff members can assist with basic care. The senior would be surrounded by other elderly residents and have access to various activities, a restaurant on the premises, and other features.

Most people today prefer to “age in place,” which essentially means living out their days within the comfort of their home. A basic home care aide working 40 hours a week with an elderly client will cost, on average, $22,000 per year. The senior could rely on assistance for just a couple of hours a day one or two days a week, if that’s all that’s needed, which makes it even more affordable.

Being honest about the various options with regard to senior care will help the elderly individual in your life make the right decision for their future.